A veteran British solo ocean rower
rescued from Sub-Antarctic waters after a violent storm smashed his
oars said today he was considering a third bid to row from New Zealand
to South Africa.
Jim Shekhdar’s second attempt ended when a violent storm hit his 26ft
rowing boat Hornette, 750 miles east of New Zealand, on Monday,
breaking his oars.
He was rescued – along with his boat – by the New Zealand fisheries
research ship Tangaroa yesterday.
“I’m still a little emotional ... I really didn’t want to be here. But
I’m very grateful to everybody who worked so hard to get me here,”
Shekhdar, 57, from Northwood, Middlesex, told National Radio today.
He praised Tangaroa skipper Roger Goodeson for stopping his 230ft boat
short of “a little rowing boat” during the ocean rescue.
But Shekhdar said he would not rule out a third attempt at the
9,000-mile row from Bluff via treacherous Cape Horn at the stormy tip
of South America to Cape Town.
“It’s scary out there. I’d hate to think I can’t achieve it, because
it is achievable,” he said.
“It’s a hell of a job ... so I’ve got to think about
another attempt] for a bit,” he said, adding: “I’m going to take a
couple of days to sort things out.”
His first effort ended after he had covered only 50 miles when his
global positioning navigation system and wind-powered generator
failed.
The violent windstorm which ended his second bid caught him by
surprise, tossing him against the vessel’s hatch, cutting open his
head.
The boat then rolled about 15 times with Shekhdar fighting to find
stability inside it.
Goodeson said the British adventurer was likely to remain on the
rescue ship probably until December 10 when it was due to return to
the New Zealand coast.
